Makenna Foundation- Evening of Champion Derby Eve Ball

Schmidt Studio & Gallery proudly invites you to join us at

the Evening of Champions Derby Eve Ball.

This year’s theme is Midnight at the Oasis and will be held on

Friday May 2, 2008 at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in downtown Lexington.

F or Ticket Information please visit: http://www.eveningofchampions.org/

I have people all the time who ask, what they can do to help my daughter… THIS … is what you can do to help. You can support the Makenna Foundation and the Kentucky Children’s Hospital and in turn you are helping Kyleigh to receive the care she needs!

I have made it no secret that our daughter has had some pretty in depth medical issues. Kyleigh was born with something called VACTERLS Association. I have always been open about sharing in her progress, ups and downs. Since she was born almost two years ago our life has changed quite a bit. We went from a relatively normal family of 4 to a family of 5 whose lives have been drastically altered to keep up with our daughter’s needs. Surgeries, months in the hospital, test after test, feeding tubes, medications, cathing and many other things have forced us to find ways to work her care into our daily lives. As you can imagine doing this and running a business at the same time is sometimes overwhelming.

In her short two years our daughter has spent nearly 6 months of days in children’s hospitals and has undergone 7 surgeries including open heart and spinal cord procedures. Most recently our search for the best medical care has led us home to the Kentucky Children’s Hospital. Its amazing and indicative of life that we have searched the nation only to find that what she really needed was right here under our noses. I never thought that I would find myself saying this but coming back to Kentucky Children’s Hospital was like going home. Walking those halls there were so many familiar faces.. so many familiar things and sounds and sights. We have our favorite child life girls, nurses, doctors, even our favorite food service guy who asks how our day was at dinner and leaves us breakfast if we are not awake yet in the mornings!! These things, familiar faces, are comforting in ways that the mind cannot explain. Most of all we have an amazing medical team that has worked for seemingly endless amounts of hours to make sure that my princess receives the care she needs. For you to understand how much we appreciate the Kentucky Children’s Hospital you must understand the vast number of people who have had their hand in caring for our child! So… to Dr. Joe Iocono, Dr. Arundathi Reddy, Dr. Carol Cottrill, Dr. Tim Bricker, Dr. Bob Owen, Dr. Thomas Pittman, Dr. Louis Bezold, Dr. Phil Bernard, Dr. Horacio Zaglul, Dr. Harohalli Shashidhar, Dr. Erich Maul, Dr. Deb Flomnehoft, Dr. Eric Renyolds, Dr. Vesna Kriss, to all of our amazing nurses, Lateefah, Rachel, Keri, Michael Ann, Karen, Helen, David, Jessica, Leah, Michelle, Melissa, Victoria, Brian, Emily, Elizabeth, Meghan, Stacie, AND all the girls in the PACU, PICU, NICU, 4 East & 4 West… I wish that I had a huge master list to thank everyone! Here’s to ALL of you … THANK YOU for everything you do!

So here I am. A Kentucky girl who never imagined that her hometown of Lexington and our hospital, Kentucky Children’s Hospital, could ever be good enough for our daughter. We never thought that they would be able to offer her what she needed. We never imagined that it would measure up to a place like Cincinnati or Chicago. We were wrong. I am here to tell you… I have been to two of the top Children’s Hospitals in America and I have come home knowing that our hospital, nurses, and doctors are not “as good” as these other places… They are better, the best even. Today of all days I am so proud to say that my daughter was treated by the amazing medical team at Kentucky Children’s Hospital. They are like family to us and we only hope that we are able to give just a little something back to them!

Recently I made a vow to myself and my daughter that I would find a way to give back to the place that has given us so much. I was sitting in a room on 4 East at KCH in January and when I am there I have time to sit and think. (not much else to do) I realized that I want to help other parents who may be just beginning their journey to find that peace, knowledge, and understanding so that they too can be a friend and support other who can use their love. There can be no better way to live than in pursuit of helping others. I watch the nurses and doctors and even the people who bring the food carts. Many of these people will live their lives never knowing what an impact they have made. Maybe I will spend the rest of my life just trying to find ways to brighten these people’s days. People who have meant so much to us for so long. Maybe that will be my way of changing the world…… who knows.

The Moo Crew 98.1 The Bull

Today I had the privilege of photographing 98.1 The Bull’s Moo Crew!  They are the morning team, Scott Wilson, Karl Shannon, and DeAnn Stephens.… We had an absolute blast!  This Crew truly knows how to get a party going!  The UK Locker Room will never be the same!!  I don’t know how these three get any work done!  I spent so much time laughing I could barely keep my camera still!!

Just as a sneak peek…. here is DeAnn Stephens in her new digs!

CF Fundraiser at Comedy Off Broadway

Mark your calendars and get your babysitters….. Troy and I will be there and we would love to see all of you!!!!
www.cff.org

The members of Team Butterfly (staff at Kentucky Children’s Hospital- who as we ALL know are near and dear to our hearts!!) are hosting a fund raising event Thursday April 16th at Comedy off Broadway to raise money for the Great Strides Cystic Fibrosis Walk. Tickets are $12 and all proceeds go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Come out for some great comedy and support a GREAT cause all at the same time!! For more information about the show or to purchase tickets contact Lateefah Barber at 859-333-1475. Thank you in advance to all that plan to attend, your support is greatly appreciated. ~ Lateefah (Captain Team Butterfly – KY Children’s Hospital) To find more information about the CF foundation log on: www.cff.org

” A Champion Fighter doesn’t quit at the end of a round, a champion fighter quits when a cure is found”
-Paige West

Lexington’s Fashion Disaster, 104.5 The Cat, Plato’s Closet, Mollie (of Beamer’s Salon)

Yesterday we spent the day having a blast and documenting the winner of the Lexington’s Fashion Disaster Contest.  Jennifer Mullins was treated to a day of pampering by Mollie Doston- Wedding Hair Specialist, $200 shopping spree to Plato’s Closet, and a photo shoot compliments of us!!   Next week Jennifer and her family will be treated to a full urban family session and I will definitely post more pics then.  But just to get started here are a few from our day.  PS… Mollie even gave me a haircut!  OMG… I am in LOVE there are pics of that to come I promise!

2 Year Portrait Session

This is Zach… we photographed him and his family last year also and WOW he has grown in a year!  I love to photograph boys!  They are such high energy and so much fun!  We had a ton of fun and he totally wore his mom and I out!  There were trains, football (go huskers!), baking supplies and FRENCH FRIES!  This guy LOVES his french fries!  His family will be moving away soon and we will definitely be sad to see them go but wish them well in their new home!

Keeneland Spring Meet is coming!!

Taken from the Ronald McDonald House website:

Keeneland “Day at the Races” Event is Friday, April 4

The annual RMHC “Day at the Races� fundraising event will be held on opening day of the Spring 2008 meet Friday, April 4.  Highlights include a gourmet lunch in the beautiful Kentucky Room and overlooking the track and video board. Proceeds from the event – sponsorships and ticket sales – benefit the families of the Ronald McDonald House of the Bluegrass.

Individual tickets are: $75 with limited Window Seating for $125. The tickets are tax-deductible. For reservations call Debbie Radcliffe, 859-268-0747.

Thank you to our Day at the Races title sponsors, Kentucky Employers Mutual Insurance (KEMI), Wachovia Securities and Stoll, Kennon & Ogden. LEX-18 and Newstalk 590 are Day at the Races media sponsors. Watch the LEX-18 Noon Show on Monday, March 17 for more on the event and the Ronald McDonald House.

Sponsorships are available; please contact Sarah Warner, 859-266-8683.

 If you are headed out to Keeneland this is a great way to enjoy the day and do something good for our city at the same time!!

 As a family whose life has been affected by the kindness and resources of the Ronald McDonald house I can tell you that the RMH is TRULY a home away from home for so many families dealing with medical crises in their children.  You have no idea what it means to be able to leave the hospital and know that there is somewhere to crash for a nap and have a warm meal.  I encourage you each to think of donating to the RMH even if it is just a few dollars per month!  Every little bit counts!!!

Announcing Tres Chic Boutique!!

104.5 The Cat

Tres Chic Boutique @ The Wedding Center

104.5 The Cat and Tres Chic Boutique at The Wedding Center want to see your cutest couple photo. You know… the one you can’t WAIT to show to your friends, the one you keep on your bedside table and fall asleep to, the one that could win you the ultimate Dave and Jimmy Prom Package. Yes, its true! That same photo could actually win you your perfect prom dress and a swanky tux just for him! That’s not all… a limo ride to the prom for up to four on your prom night – courtesy Affordable Limousines. Get registered and send your photo. If we choose you then you will be all set for the prom!

Go here and register to win!

http://www.wlkt.com/cc-common/globalcontestfinder.html?contest=29333

Don’t FORGET! If you are looking for a fabulous place to get your PERFECT prom attire, register your gown so NO ONE else shows up to Prom in YOUR dress, tux to match, and gorgeous hair… check out Tres Chic Boutique inside The Wedding Center. The Wedding Center is located on Plaza Drive just off Southland Drive in Lexington. Be sure to tell them that your friends over at Schmidt Studio & Gallery sent ya!!

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Meet Allie…

Had so much fun photographing this Woodford County Senior last week.  The weather just opened up for us to take full advantage of the downtown urban locations.  We can’t wait for her to come back in the studio to see the rest of them.  Until then, here is a sneak peek.

Pay it Forward…

Imagine having a beautiful child.
Imagine finding out your beautiful child won’t survive past two years old.
Imagine having ONE wish for your child.
Imagine everyone banding together to make the wish a reality.

This is the story of Lilie’s family, and this is me (and hopefully all of you), committing myself to find a way to make this happen! Lilie is terminally ill. She has been diagnosed with GM1 Gangliosidosis. It is a rare, incurable lysosomal storage disease (enzyme deficiency) that will ultimately take her life by what research shows. . . by the age of two. She will continue to degenerate, go blind, have seizures, and eventually lose all ability to move and succumb to this disease. She is all but blind and her mom (Jen) is spending her last days enjoying what life is left in her daughter.

All Jen wants to do is take her daughter to the Ocean before she dies and Make a Wish will not grant them the wish because she is under two and they believe that Lilie will not get any benefit from it that it would only benefit the FAMILY… Jen is devastated.

Visit their Caring Bridge page here: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lilieclark

This family is a dear friend mine. I’m asking for your help. Myself (along with a couple photographer friends of mine) would love to be able to get them to Florida. If we can get them to Florida (there are 6 in their family), they can stay with family…but with tons of medical expenses, right now it just isn’t possible.

So I’m asking for your guys’ help….anything that you could donate to this fabulous cause….$5, $20, $500…I get approximately 500 visits to my blog daily, if each person donated just $10, we could have $5000 in just one day…that would be A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!! Put yourself in their shoes, imagine having one last wish for your child.

I have set up a Paypal account for the donations. If you are willing to help out, please go to Paypal and send funds to the following address sulrich@neb.rr.com.

Mr. Nate’s three month photo session

Meet Mr. Nate… he is one of our newest Baby Planners!! Totally and completely adorable! I just LOOOOVE chubby babies!! He had the cutest little dark curly hair and I just wanted to squeeze him!!!! What a little doll baby!! Lee- if you read this before you get my message… call me… your proofs are ready and they are totally and completely gorgeous! ~Amber